Connecting the Dots - Revisited

When I was a little girl I loved to color, who am I kidding, I still do!  I asked my family to give me crayons and coloring books this past Christmas; they looked at me and asked if I was serious. I guess that was an appropriate question considering I'm 49 years old! Anyway, they granted my request and I got a turn-table full of crayons in beautiful colors and several coloring books. Now, when I'm stressed or tired or just want to "get away" instead of Calgon, I color. 

I remember coloring as a little girl, I enjoyed the pretty pictures and choosing what colors to use. But, I really liked the Dot-to-Dot pictures. I was always intrigued by what the finished picture would be. Sometimes there would be clues on the page, but it was never enough to give it away. So, I would grab my pencil, place it at number one and begin to connect the dots. I loved watching the completed picture come to life!

Just last week, I talked with my youth group about life being like a connect the dot picture. I gave each of them a picture to complete - without any numbers. They all said the same thing, "How are we supposed to do this without the numbers?" (they are so smart!) My point exactly!  

So often in life we try to create our own picture, connecting dots in random order, going here and there not considering the finished product. What we end up with is a mess! The only way for the picture to be completed as planned is when we allow the pen to stay in the hand of the Creator of the picture. 

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God's masterpiece. We have been designed to do good works that were planned long ago. As a follower of Jesus Christ, and if we believe that, then why do we so often take the pen from the Creator's hand and try to connect the dots ourselves? We are each a unique creation. God has mastered a plan for our lives, carefully designing the dots and knowing where each dot connects. Sometimes the dots are connected quickly and with much ease. Other dots seem to take forever before they are connected. It's at those times we want to snatch the pen and start making our own connections. 

I've learned that taking the pen from the hand of the Artist who created my picture isn't in my best interest. So, I've learned to trace His hand; and, when I can't trace His hand, I've learned to trust His heart. 

Who is holding the pen that is connecting the dots in your life? 

(By the way - I wrote this ten years ago, and it's still true today.)